Catholic Note:
Purgatory refers to a temporary state of purification
for those who have died in the state of grace but still
need to get rid of any lingering imperfections (venial
sins, earthly attachments, self-will, etc.) before
entering the perfection of heaven.
Purgatory is like the Spiritual
Hospital of Heaven.
Purgatory has NOTHING to do with ones justification
or salvation. Those in purgatory are justified; they
are saved. Purgatory has to do with ones HOLINESS
and the burning away of remaining self-love. Revelation
21:27
It's true that the word "purgatory" doesn't
appear in the Bible (neither do the words "Trinity", "Incarnation",
"Altar Call" or even "Bible").
However, what's important is not the word, but the
doctrine. And the doctrine of the final purification
of the elect, apart from heaven or hell, is clearly
taught in both the Old Testament and the New Testament."
Old Testament
- Wisdom, Chapter 3
- 2 Samuel 12:13-14 - David,
though forgiven, is still punished for sin
- 2 Maccabees 12:39-46 says:
Next day, they came to find Judas (since the necessity
was by now urgent) to have the bodies of the fallen
taken up and laid to rest among their relatives in
their ancestral tombs. But when they found on each
of the dead men, under their tunics, objects dedicated
to the idols of Jamnia, which the Law prohibits to
Jews, it became clear to everyone that this was why
these men had lost their lives. All then blessed
the ways of the Lord, the upright judge who brings
hidden things to light, and gave themselves to prayer,
begging that the sin committed might be completely
forgiven. Next, the valiant Judas urged the soldiers
to keep themselves free from all sin, having seen
with their own eyes the effects of the sin of those
who had fallen; after this he took a collection from
them individually, amounting to nearly two thousand
drachmas, and sent it to Jerusalem to have a sacrifice
for sin offered, an action altogether fine and noble,
prompted by his belief in the resurrection. For had
he not expected the fallen to rise again, it
would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for
the dead, whereas if he had in view the splendid
recompense reserved for those who make a pious end,
the thought was holy and devout. Hence, he had this
expiatory sacrifice offered for the dead, so that
they might be released from their sin.
Side note: Though this book was rejected by
the Protestant reformers and therefore is NOT in
Protestant Bibles, one
can not ignore the historical reality of this
event and the reality of the words
which were said.
- See also: - Leviticus 26:41,
43; Isaiah 4:4, Isaiah 6:5-7, Isaiah 33:11-14, Micah
7 8-9:, Zechariah 9:11, Malachi 3:2-4
New Testament
- Matthew 5:25-26 - "you
will be thrown into prison and not be released until
you have paid the last penny."
- Matthew 5:48 - be perfect
as your heavenly Father is perfect (perfection is
to be strived for on earth)
- Matthew 12:32 - sin against
the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, in this age,
or the next
- Matthew 12:36 - you will
have to account for every idle word on judgment day
- 1 Corinthians 3:10-16
- "if someone's work is burned ... the person
will be saved, but only as through fire"
- 1 Corinthians 15:29-30
- Paul mentions people baptizing for the dead
- 2 Timothy 1:16-18 - St.
Paul prays - asks that God have mercy on his dead
friend, Onesiphorus.
- Hebrews 12:14 - strive
for that holiness without which one cannot see God
- Hebrews 12:29 - For our
God is a consuming fire
- James 1:14-15 - when sin
reaches maturity it reaches death
- James 3:2 - we all fall
short in many respects
- 1 Peter 3:18-20 to 4:6
- Jesus preached to the spirits in prison.
- 1 John 5:16-17 - Distinction
made between deadly sins and one that are not deadly.
- Revelation 21:27 - Nothing
unclean will be allowed to enter into heaven.
See also: - Matthew 18:34ff,
Luke 12:58ff, Luke 16:19-31, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2
Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 4:8-10, Philippians 2:10-11,
1 Peter 4:6, Revelation 5:3, 13
